Bush ally: Bush 'misheard' Iraq question

[Torie]

Whether Bush did or not, the fallout from it has been terrible, and Bush's handling of it terrible, and I think this has the potential to really hurt his candidacy. He seemingly does not have the skill or the emotional will to cut himself loose from Dubya, and he becomes a candidate re-litigating the past, rather than focusing on the future, which is equivalent to political suicide in my view.

I'm unhappy with Rubio's performance so far as well. Kasich needs to get in, and the sooner the better. It's pathetic.

[Gallium]

He had a new response on Hannity today:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/05/12/jeb-bush-clarifies-remarks-on-supporting-iraq-war/

This response feels even worse.  Thousands of deaths are just any old mistake. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nothing in his pre-campaign so far suggests he's got any real political talent, beyond fundraising ability. He's made gaffe after gaffe. If he's rusty, he's practically decomposed.

[bedstuy]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked. 

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Wow. After this, I'm no longer willing to call Bush a slight favorite for the nomination. That honor belongs to Walker.

[RFayette]

Wow. After this, I'm no longer willing to call Bush a slight favorite for the nomination. That honor belongs to Walker.

His unpopularity in WI though is a turnoff, which is leading me to jump to the Kasich train along with Torie.  I would also be open to Christie or Rubio (depending on foreign policy) potentially. 

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Wow. After this, I'm no longer willing to call Bush a slight favorite for the nomination. That honor belongs to Walker.

His unpopularity in WI though is a turnoff, which is leading me to jump to the Kasich train along with Torie.  I would also be open to Christie or Rubio (depending on foreign policy) potentially. 

Yeah, I still endorse Kasich. But Walker is currently most likely to win the nod, while Kasich likely needs Rubio, Bush, and Walker to completely implode to have a real chance.

[history nerd]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked. 

Bush's approval ratings have been steadily improving since leaving office. It sounds to me like you are stuck in 2008... He is not the universally hated man he once was. I would provide a link to back up my assertions but I guess I need more posts for that so just google it for proof.


With ISIS and everything going on Bush's favorability will only improve as his actions in the middle east will appear more and more justified. Of course you and I know this is bullsh**t but the public is not you nor I.

[bedstuy]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked. 

Bush's approval ratings have been steadily improving since leaving office. It sounds to me like you are stuck in 2008... He is not the universally hated man he once was. I would provide a link to back up my assertions but I guess I need more posts for that so just google it for proof.


With ISIS and everything going on Bush's favorability will only improve as his actions in the middle east will appear more and more justified. Of course you and I know this is bullsh**t but the public is not you nor I.

Are you kidding? 

People are less angry at Bush because he's no longer a politician.  Nobody defends his record as President though.  And, the Iraq War is still viewed as a fiasco.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked. 

Bush's approval ratings have been steadily improving since leaving office. It sounds to me like you are stuck in 2008... He is not the universally hated man he once was. I would provide a link to back up my assertions but I guess I need more posts for that so just google it for proof.


With ISIS and everything going on Bush's favorability will only improve as his actions in the middle east will appear more and more justified. Of course you and I know this is bullsh**t but the public is not you nor I.

Are you kidding? 

People are less angry at Bush because he's no longer a politician.  Nobody defends his record as President though.  And, the Iraq War is still viewed as a fiasco.

Exactly. And if you're trying to find a center to center-right person who still hates GWB, you're looking at one right now.

[history nerd]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked. 

Bush's approval ratings have been steadily improving since leaving office. It sounds to me like you are stuck in 2008... He is not the universally hated man he once was. I would provide a link to back up my assertions but I guess I need more posts for that so just google it for proof.


With ISIS and everything going on Bush's favorability will only improve as his actions in the middle east will appear more and more justified. Of course you and I know this is bullsh**t but the public is not you nor I.

Are you kidding? 

People are less angry at Bush because he's no longer a politician.  Nobody defends his record as President though.  And, the Iraq War is still viewed as a fiasco.

Exactly. And if you're trying to find a center to center-right person who still hates GWB, you're looking at one right now.

You are a politically and historically minded fellow, judging by your presence here, so I hardly think you are a representative sample. I also am fairly right wing and I also hate GWB... But I recognize my bias.

Also I highly doubt that Iraq will be a major issue in 2016, especially not on the Republican side of the aisle. Even Paul has backed away from the subject in recent interviews. His support for his brother and the war certainly won't help him but I will be surprised if it hurts  him much.

[bballrox4717]

The really sad thing for Bush, is that the question as asked would've done likely helped him if he had just said no. I actually do believe that he misheard the question and meant to dodge (which wouldn't have made news) or say no.

It's going to hurt him bad and make Walker and Rubio more legitimate. The worst thing to do in politics is to take a strong stand against the public on an issue and then pander (in the eyes of the electorate). This is seriously the kind of thing (think 47%, self deportation, I voted for it before I voted against it) that slowly kills a campaign.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

This election is over if Jeb's the nominee. All Hillary needs to do is to play this clip in a few ads until it's sunk into public consciousness, and she's golden.

[RogueBeaver]

Hillary-Jeb GE is relitigating their relatives' presidencies among swing voters... everyone but Acelans know how that ends.

[SWE]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked.  

Bush's approval ratings have been steadily improving since leaving office. It sounds to me like you are stuck in 2008... He is not the universally hated man he once was. I would provide a link to back up my assertions but I guess I need more posts for that so just google it for proof.


With ISIS and everything going on Bush's favorability will only improve as his actions in the middle east will appear more and more justified. Of course you and I know this is bullsh**t but the public is not you nor I.

Every president's approval shoots up when they leave politics.

[history nerd]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked.  

Bush's approval ratings have been steadily improving since leaving office. It sounds to me like you are stuck in 2008... He is not the universally hated man he once was. I would provide a link to back up my assertions but I guess I need more posts for that so just google it for proof.


With ISIS and everything going on Bush's favorability will only improve as his actions in the middle east will appear more and more justified. Of course you and I know this is bullsh**t but the public is not you nor I.

Every president's approval shoots up when they leave politics.

Yup, because memory fades... It has been eight years, we will not be debating Iraq... As much as I would like that to be the national conversation.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

First Snyder and now this. I really hope Kasich gets in.

[HAnnA MArin County]

This is why Bush is fundamentally a terrible candidate, regardless of his political skills.

His brother's term was a disaster and almost universally seen negatively.
Bill Clinton's term was successful and generally seen positively.

A Bush vs. Clinton race demands, not just invites, that comparison.  Maybe it isn't fatal, but I don't see how he survives that.  And, if you're the moderate candidate and you don't have a strong electability argument, you're cooked.  

Bush's approval ratings have been steadily improving since leaving office. It sounds to me like you are stuck in 2008... He is not the universally hated man he once was. I would provide a link to back up my assertions but I guess I need more posts for that so just google it for proof.


With ISIS and everything going on Bush's favorability will only improve as his actions in the middle east will appear more and more justified. Of course you and I know this is bullsh**t but the public is not you nor I.

Every president's approval shoots up when they leave politics.

Yup, because memory fades... It has been eight years, we will not be debating Iraq... As much as I would like that to be the national conversation.

Yes, that will only occur on the Democratic side when the "true progressives" keep bringing it up in attempts to crucify Hillary again. Outside of the Code Pink/Daily Kos kooky constituencies and Atlas, Democratic primary voters are not going to care about it anymore.

As for George W. Bush's allegedly improving favorabilities, as has already been stated on here, that's only because he's been out of politics. Once the campaign gets into full mode, he will be brought back into the political spotlight and Jeb's opponents (on both sides) will constantly remind Americans why they all hated W so much and then his numbers will continue to decline to their normal levels. 

I agree with the poster on here who said that the Clinton years are remembered fondly while the Bush years are like a recurring nightmare. It's going to be difficult for Jeb to effectively distance himself from his brother's disastrous presidency, meanwhile all the Republicans have on the Clinton years is Monica Lewinsky and if they try to blame Hillary for that, well it'll just add to their growing problem of winning the female vote. There's a reason why Bill Clinton was a rock star at the 2008 and 2012 DNCs and George W. Bush was absent from both RNCs.

[Slander and/or Libel]

People don't generally think about Iraq right now, no, but with a Bush on the ticket who can't answer THE MOST BASIC QUESTIONS about it, no doubt it'll be brought back up.

[bobloblaw]

well he is an idiot.

This is typical Bush. They are like GOP Kennedys. They are loyal to one another to the end.

Just as Teddy's 1980 run relegated the Kennedys to a national joke, the same will soon happen to the Bush family.

[bobloblaw]

Wow. After this, I'm no longer willing to call Bush a slight favorite for the nomination. That honor belongs to Walker.

His unpopularity in WI though is a turnoff, which is leading me to jump to the Kasich train along with Torie.  I would also be open to Christie or Rubio (depending on foreign policy) potentially. 

Kaisch is another 1990s retread. X-files redebuts in Jan 2016 BTW